The drive from Pitcairn, PA to Altoona, PA covers 87.3 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on William Penn Highway, Admiral Peary Highway, I 99 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 59.7 miles on William Penn Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.47 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.6 miles from Pitcairn, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
59.7 mi
1h 22m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
Mosside Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Northern Pike
1.7 mi
3m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
6th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Broadway Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pitcairn, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Center Avenue
485 ft·28 sec·Center Avenue
2
Turn left onto PA 130
0.6 mi·1 min·Broadway Boulevard
3
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt
2.7 mi·4 min·Mosside Boulevard
4
Turn straight
0.1 mi·25 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
1.7 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
6
Turn right onto US 22
43 mi·1 hr 2 min·William Penn Highway
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
9
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
11
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
14
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
15
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
16
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
17
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.6 miles from Pitcairn, PA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.6 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pitcairn, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pitcairn, PA
This is one driving day of about 87.3 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Pitcairn, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 59.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 84.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 130 / Broadway Boulevard
Turn left onto PA 130 / Broadway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in|Northern Pike
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
Navigation decision point
5
5.2 mi into trip|~10m in|US 22 / William Penn Highway
Turn right onto US 22 / William Penn Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
5
84.8 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight right at fork toward Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Altoona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.47 one way
$28.95 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.85
$31.70
premium
$4.93
$16.93
$33.86
diesel
$5.61
$19.27
$38.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
7 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Blink
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
EVgo
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 5
Blink: 1
EVgo: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.2
0
$9.17
$4.19
Efficient EV
21.8
0
$7.64
$3.49
EV Truck/SUV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Pitcairn, PA
Afternoon
in Pitcairn on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 13 mph44% chanceLive forecast
47°F
Germany, PA
44 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 57.2
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 51.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 2h 4m drive with frequent turns across 87.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
William Penn Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 59.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near PA 130 / Broadway Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (PA 130 / Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (Northern Pike): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (US 22 / William Penn Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pitcairn, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
78.5 mi in|~1h 52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 87.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pitcairn, PA to Altoona, PA covers 87.3 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are William Penn Highway, Admiral Peary Highway, I 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.6 miles from Pitcairn, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (PA 130 / Broadway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (Northern Pike): Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (US 22 / William Penn Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Pitcairn, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
